December 19, 2013

Mavs have stepped it up defensively this month

DALLAS -- They may not be in the same defensive class with Indiana, San Antonio and Miami, but the Dallas Mavericks have been a terror on defense this month.

Overall, the Mavs are allowing 101.2 points per game -- poor enough for 21st in the NBA. But in seven games during the month of December the Mavs are allowing just 96.6 points per contest.

"In the month of December we’ve been better defensively and our goal is to stay on that track,'' coach Rick Carlisle said after Thursday's practice. "We’ve spent the majority of our practice time on defense.

"We know how important it is and we’re going to be vigilant about it.''

The Mavs have limited five opponents under 100 points this month and are 4-1 in that situation. The hard work apparently is paying off.

"It’s not something that you can take days off from,'' Carlisle said. "You can’t take days off from the mental edge aspect of it, and we know that.

"So we’re going to have to continue to work at it.''

Overall, the Mavs are 10-2 when limiting opponents to under 100 points. But they know they should be a perfect 12-0.

Back on Nov. 29 the Mavs led the Hawks in Atlanta, 70-53, with 4:05 left in the third quarter and wound up losing that game, 88-87. Back on Dec. 11, the Mavs led the Golden State Warriors in Oakland, 52-34, with 2:18 remaining in the second quarter and wound up losing that game, 95-93.